KATHMANDU – The government is set to install a solar power plant for supplying electricity at the Gautam Buddha International Airport (GBIA).
Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Barsha Man Pun and Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Yogesh Kumar Bhattarai held discussions on installing a 10 megawatts capacity solar power plant at the GBIA, which is in its final stages of construction.
During the discussions held at the Ministry of Energy, the two ministers exchanged views with the goal of promoting the use of clean energy. Tourism Secretary Yadav Prasad Koirala, Officiating Secretary at the Energy Ministry Praveen Aryal, Joint Secretary Madhu Prasad Bhetwal, Acting Director General at the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) Hitendra Dev Shakya and officials of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) were also present on the occasion.
The meeting directed the ministries and the NEA to prepare a detailed outline on the installation of the solar plant and submit it to the ministers within a week. There is also a plan to set up the solar plant through the private sector and with the support of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) at the open ground close to the Bhairahawa Airport.
Out of about Rs 18 billion that ADB is providing Nepal for installing solar power plants, the process has been forwarded already in connection to producing five megawatts of power in Jhapa, seven megawatts of power in Butwal, four megawatts of power in Pokhara and eight megawatts of power in Chanauta.
The NEA has signed a power purchase agreement for the solar plants to be constructed in Butwal and Pokhara. Energy Minister Pun said the amount provided by ADB for all these plants will not be entirely spent and there is a plan to install a 10 megawatts capacity solar plant at GBIA from the extra amount.
CAAN will provide the space required for construction of the plant to NEA on lease for 25 years. NEA has proposed that it will give the responsibility of installing the solar power plant to the private sector and it will purchase the power generated from it and supply it to the GBIA.
Addressing the meeting, Energy Minister Pun said that although the country is at the stage of self-reliance in the hydropower sector, solar plants are also necessary for promoting alternative energy balance.
Tourism Minister Bhattarai said it will be the best initiative and also send a positive message to the international level if the airport can be operated with solar power. He added that the GBIA is in final stages of completion and it will be a model one after the installation of the solar plant. However, some technical works have not moved forward as Chinese workers are unable to come for work due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
